Justice Depart Argues Against Ashcroft Testimony in NSA Spy Program

[kpete]

Associated Press
Justice Argues Against Ashcroft Testimony
By KATHERINE SHRADER , 02.16.2006, 01:18 PM


The Justice Department strongly discouraged the Senate Judiciary Committee from calling former Attorney General John Ashcroft and his deputy to testify, saying they won't have new information for Congress about the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance program.

Just as Attorney General Alberto Gonzales could not talk about the administration's internal deliberations when he appeared before the committee earlier this month, neither can Ashcroft nor his former No. 2, James Comey, Assistant Attorney General William Moschella said in a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa.

The letter, written Wednesday, was obtained by The Associated Press.

"In light of their inability to discuss such confidential information, along with the fact that the attorney general has already provided the executive branch position on the legal authority for the program, we do not believe that Messrs. Ashcroft and Comey would be in a position to provide any new information to the committee," Moschella wrote. He was responding to Specter's request that the two men testify this month.

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2006/02/16/ap2532723.html

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Anybody ever figure that someday

we'd want Ashcroft's testimony in order to support a liberal position?

I've been looking for Alice ever since I fell down this hole.

[jsamuel]

2. the reason is becuase it supports a RIGHT position that even Ashcroft

can't deny

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. Specter SPECIFICALLY asked Gonzo about this!!

Gonzo hemmed and hawed, but in the end said he had no problem. Specter wanted to know if Gonzo was going to block him!

[FormerRepublican]

4. Must apply the BushCo law - everything he says is a lie. Thus, no...

...Ashcroft. Why do they even bother to bring these guys to testify before Congress? Oh, I forgot. They want a whitewash.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Well, don't forget that Gonzo wasn't sworn

He could lie to his heart's content and not face any consequences.

[myrna minx]

6. Indeed, why do these guy even bother to testify before Congress.

Since they don't have to be put under oath, it's as though submitting filled out Mad Lib forms into the Congressional record would get to the heart of the truth before any of these jokers' testimony. :eyes: